In brief
An Australian‑led systematic review revealed that current smokers are 31% more likely to develop any form of dementia, with 40% higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and 52% higher risk for vascular dementia. The study, based on 61 earlier studies, found that the risk rises with the number of cigarettes smoked and that quitting reduces the danger. Researchers argue brain‑health warnings should be part of anti‑smoking campaigns.
A systematic review led by Curtin University in Australia and published in eClinicalMedicine on Sunday found that current smokers have a higher chance of developing dementia than people who have never smoked.
The study examined 61 research papers involving 2.8 million participants. Overall, it showed smokers had 31% higher risk of any dementia, 40% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and 52% higher risk of vascular dementia.
Risk rises with cigarette use
Those who smoked 10 cigarettes a day had a 16% higher risk of dementia, and those who smoked 20 a day had a 34% higher risk, compared with never‑smokers.
Former smokers did not show an elevated risk compared with people who had never smoked, suggesting that quitting can reduce the danger.
The researchers cautioned that they could not prove that smoking causes dementia, but the evidence supports the idea that stopping smoking may be an important step in lowering a person’s risk.
They called on anti‑smoking campaigns, cigarette packet warnings and quit‑smoking programs to emphasize brain health, arguing that doing so could help people see the long‑term benefits of not smoking.
